Preview: Jets, Texans Collide in NJCAA First Round

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Interstat) — The Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets and South Plains Texans will meet Sunday in the first round of the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, a matchup featuring a surging underdog against a seasoned power.

The game is scheduled for March 22, 2026.

No. 14-seed Northern Oklahoma-Enid (14-11) enters the national tournament having won three of its last four, including a 68-59 road victory at Western Oklahoma State on March 14. The Jets are led by guard Gavin Barnard, who has been on a remarkable statistical run. Over his last four games, Barnard averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds and 6.5 assists, including a triple-double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) in a win over Seminole State on Feb. 23. In the Jets’ most recent win, he posted 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

They face a significant challenge in No. 3-seed South Plains (23-7), which boasts one of the nation’s top records. The Texans, however, are looking to rebound from a 74-70 loss at Midland in their regular-season finale on March 13. They had won four straight prior to that defeat.

South Plains is anchored by guard Micah Bell, who scored 22 points and dished five assists in a win over Temple on March 12. He averages 14.2 points per game over his last five contests. The Texans’ resume includes a 68-63 win over Howard (Texas) and a 97-85 victory at Western Texas.

The Jets will need to overcome a stark disparity in record and seeding. Their path to Hutchinson included tight wins, such as an 88-87 victory at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa, but also several close losses.

South Plains, a perennial national contender, has consistently handled business, with its seven losses coming by an average of just 6.3 points. Their defense, which held Clarendon to 60 points and New Mexico Military to 54, will test Barnard and the Jets’ offense.

This first-round contest pits the Jets’ recent momentum against the Texans’ established depth and pedigree, setting the stage for a classic tournament clash.